SIOPE/EONS/ECCO Project on ‘Collaboration between nurses and doctors in paediatric oncology’
Multiprofessional collaboration is gaining greater attention for its outstanding capacity to deliver high-quality care. ECCO, the European CanCer Organisation, has sponsored a project entitled ‘Collaboration between nurses and doctors in paediatric oncology’, coordinated by SIOPE and in association with EONS, to enhance interaction between doctors and nurses in paediatric oncology centres.
The project aims to improve collaborative working between nurses and doctors in the care and management of children with cancer by establishing a programme to explore organisational development and change. Originally organised around three weekend seminars held in Europe over a period of two years, funding was once again allocated to continue this project in 2009 and it is expected to be finalised in the early part of 2010 with dissemination at relevant conferences and seminars ongoing.
Project objectives include the following:
Describe the level of integration between doctors and nurses in several areas of care;
Improve the integration in specific areas of care;
Promote the exchange and enrichment of theoretical and technical knowledge between professionals (doctors and nurses) in the same working environment.
At the outset, the project consisted of 15 ‘doctor and nurse’ pairs from across Europe collaborating on a broad range of topics. 11 pairs continue to roll-out the project and one new team has been welcomed to join the project this year, with the seminar taking place on 19th September in Berlin, Germany.
The European Oncology Nursing Society is a pan-European organisation dedicated to the support and development of cancer nurses. Through individual members and national societies EONS engages in projects to help nurses develop their skills, network with each other and raise the profile of cancer nursing across Europe. For more information, check out their website:
www.cancernurse.eu
Head of the Project, Professor Faith Gibson, co-authored an interesting piece recently with ECCO for their Patient Affairs. To view the article on 'Children with Cancer: Their perceptions and experiences of care must be sought', click here.